Vacuum cleaner



May 14, 1963 c. E. s. ANDERSSON-SASON 3,089,177

VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2'7, 1961 INVENTOR. M5 JZE/Z WMJn-fm BY ZQMJ I M A 4rr0z/1/m May 14, 1963 c. E. s. ANDERSSON-SASON 3,089,177

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Jan. 27, 1961 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR.

Wm: MA MM 5M s, rare The present invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly is directed to improvements in vacuum cleaners for household use of the kind in which a motor-fan unit and a dust separator or collector are enclosed in a housing.

Existing household vacuum cleaners of the described type have a housing of hard material, such as, metal or rigid plastic, so that careless handling of the vacuum cleaner may result in damage to the furniture, walls or the like of the dwelling. Previous attempts to avoidsuch damage have generally involved the provision of resilient shock absorbers, bumpers and the like on the otherwise hard or rigid housing of the vacuum cleaner. However, such shock absorbers, bumpers and the like are not completely effective in avoiding the described damage as they leave large areas of the hard housing exposed for damaging contact with furniture, walls and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of the described character which positively avoids any damage to furniture, walls and the like as a result of contact therewith by the housing of the vacuum cleaner.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a household vacuum cleaner is provided with a housing having a soft or flexible side wall and containing the motor-fan unit and the dust separator or collector so that no damage can result from contact of such housing with furniture, walls and the like during use of the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a household vacuum cleaner of the described character which is more conveniently transportable or bodily carried by the user between the places of storage and use thereof.

A further object is to provide a household vacuum cleaner of the described character wherein the housing affords improved storage for the accessories, such as, the flexible hose, pipe extensions and various nozzles or brushes.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the housing having a soft or flexible side wall is divided into a lower portion which contains the motor-fan unit and dust separator or collector, and an upper portion which opens upwardly to form a storage space for the accessories, with handle or other carrying means being provided at the upper portion of the housing so that the same may be carried as a satchel or the like and, while being thus carried, tends to have its top opening laterally closed for ensuring the retention of the accessories in the upper portion of the housing provided therefor.

it is another feature of the vacuum cleaner embodying this invention that the connections for the flexible hose to either the suction or pressure sides of the motor-fan unit are arranged in a false bottom of the housing separating the lower portion containing the motor-fan unit and the dust collector or separator from the upper portion of the housing forming a storage space for the accessories, so that such connections are surrounded by the upper portion of the soft or flexible side walls of the housing and do not present the usual projections extending from the housing and susceptible of damaging contact with furniture, walls or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a household vacuum cleaner of the described character having an improved mounting for the motor-fan unit Efihhii? Patented May 14*, 1953 thereof, which mounting includes a body of foamed plastic extending around the motor-fan unit and having vibration-damping and sound-proofing characteristics.

A further object is to provide a household vacuum cleaner of the described character, wherein the housing is intended to travel over a floor or other supporting surface during use and has improved stability during such travel.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the housing of the vacuum cleaner having a soft or flexible side wall and a false bottom dividing the upper and lower portions of the housing with the pressure and suction connections for the flexible hose being arranged in such false bottom, is further provided, at its bottom, with wheels or other traveling means for engaging the floor or supporting surface during use of the vacuum cleaner, and a pull transmitting member is secured to the bottom of the housing, at the front of the latter, and connected releasably to the flexible hose so that, when the housing is drawn along by a pull exerted on the hose, such pull is transmitted to the bottom of the housing and avoids toppling of the latter. Further, the pull transmitting member, being inclined upwardly from the bottom of the housing to the flexible hose can engage door sills, or other obstructions on the floor, and thereby assist the passage of the housing over such obstructions.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a household vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, and being shown with accessories connected to the housing of the vacuum cleaner, as in the condition of use thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, but with the various accessories in their positions of storage within the housing;

FIG. 3 is a front elevat'ional view of the vacuum cleaner in the condition of FIG. 2, but partly broken away and in vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional View of the vacuum cleaner; and

'FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, and illustrating the manner in which such vacuum cleaner may be carried between the places of storage and use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, thereof, it will be seen that a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10, includes a housing 11 made up of the top part 12 and a bottom part 13 divided or separated by a horizontally extending partition or false bottom 14. The bottom part 1 3 of the housing is further divided into two compartments 15 and 16 by means of a vertical partition 17 which extends downwardly from false bottom 14 and, at its lower edge, is joined to two vertically spaced apart bottom plates 18 and 19. The partitions 1'4 and 17 and the bottom plates 18 and 19 are formed of metal or other rigid material and form a rigid frame for the housing 11.

A dust collector or separator 20*, in the form of a filter bag, is disposed within the compartment 15 of the lower part 13 of the housing and is supported, at its upper open end, by the false bottom or partition 14. A motor fan unit 21 is disposed in the other lower compartment 16 land has its suction opening disposed above an opening 22 in the bottom plate =18, While the latter is further pro vided with perforations 23 which open into the compartment 15. Thus, the suction opening of motor-fan unit 21 communicates with compartment 15 by way of opening 22, the space between bottom plates 18 and 19 and the perforations 23.

The suspension for motor-fan unit 21 includes a suspension plate 24 which is suitably secured to the upper end of unit 21 andwhich rests upon the upper surface of a block 25 of foamed plastic, for example, foamed polyurethane, foamed polystyrene or the like. The block 25 of foamed plastic closely surrounds the motor-fan unit 21 and, at its lower surface, rests upon bottom plate 18, so that the block 25 constitutes a vibration damping and sound absorbing mounting for the motor-fan unit. The exhaust or pressure opening of motor-fan unit 21 opens into compartment 16, and the pressurized air escapes from such compartment through a pressure connection 26 extending through partition or false bottom 14. A similar suction connection 27 is \also mounted in partition 14, but opens into the compartment 15 therebelow.

'Ihe compartment 16 below partition 14 also accommodates a conventional reel 28 which is resiliently urged to rotate in one direction for automatically rewinding thereon an electric cable or cord 29 projecting through an opening the side Wall of the housing 11 for connection to a source of electricity. The electric conductors of cable or cord 29 are further conventionally connected to the motor of unit 21.

The space above false bottom 14, that is, within upper part 12 of housing 11 opens upwardly, and also forwardly through a cutout 30 formed in the side Wall and is intended to accommodate the usual vacuum cleaner accessories during the storage thereof. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such accessories may include the usual flexible hose 31, two pipe sections 32, a large rug or floor nozzle 33 and a small upholstery brush 34. In order to support the pipe sections 32 in the upright positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and, in broken lines, in FIG. 4, false bottom or partition 15 is further preferably formed with two suitably sized openings 35 (FIG. 4) above compartment 16 so that end portions of the pipe sections 32 can extend downwardly through the openings 35 and come to rest on the mounting plate 24 of the motor-fan unit.

The vacuum cleaner further includes supporting means at the bottom of housing 11 for engagement with a floor or other supporting surface, and which are intended to facilitate travel of the housing over such supporting surface. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such s pporting means are in the form of wheels '36 rotatably mounted on axles 37 which are suitably carried by the rigid bottom plates 18 and 19 of the housing, but it is apparent that such wheels may be part of a carriage which is separable from the housing 11, and also that the wheels may be replaced by skids, balls or other friction reducing supporting members. As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the wheels 36 are preferably wider than the radius thereof and provided with a rounded tread so as to provide a stable base for the housing which discourages overturning of the latter.

When the vacuum cleaner 10 is in condition for use, as in FIG. 1, the flexible hose 31 is normally coupled, at one end, to the suction connection 27, while its other end is connected to the joined together pipe sections 32 having one or the other of the nozzle attachments at the free end thereof. The housing 11 can be drawn over the supporting surface by a pull exerted on the flexible hose 31. In the vacuum cleaner 10, such pull exerted on the flexible hose is preferably transmitted to the housing 11 by means of a strap 37 or other flexible pull transmitting member which preferably tapers from one end to the other, and which is connected, at its wide end, to the bottom of the housing 11, while its other or narrow end carries a snap hook 38 releasably engageable With a ring or the like 39 mounted on hose 31. Thus, when a pull is exerted on hose 31, such pull is transmitted, by way of strap 37', to the bottom of housing 11, thereby tending to prevent overturning of the housing when the latter is pulled around a corner and further making it easier to guide the travel of the housing 11 with the hose 3 1. When the vacuum cleaner is stored, the snap hook 38 may be engaged with a ring or staple 46 provided at the front of the top part 12 of the vacuum housing, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the strap 37' inclined plane extending upwardly from the bottom of housing 11 at the front of the latter engageable with a door sill or other obstruction on the floor so as to facilitate travel of the housing over such obstruction.

further defines an contact of the housing with furniture, Walls or the like. During normal use of the cleaner the soft side wall of the housing 11 is bendable and bodily movable inward responsive to physical force applied to its outer surface. Preferably, the side wall of the top part 12 of the housing is softer than the side wall of the bottom part 13 of the housing, thereby to facilitate the insertion and removal of the accessories 31 to 34. Further, the soft or flexible character of the side wall of top part 12 of the housing contributes to the closing of the top opening thereof when the housing 11 is transported or bodily carried between the places of use and storage by suitable handle means provided adjacent the top of the housing. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, such handle 41 formed in the opposite the top edge thereof. By character of the side wall of the housing, particularly in the top part 12 thereof, the user of the vacuum cleaner can extend the fingers of one hand through both openings 41, which thereby constitute a handle by which the housing can be conveniently carried. It will be obvious that, when the fingers of one hand are passed simultaneously through both openings 41, the top opening of the housing 11 is thereby substantially closed so as to ensure the retention of the various accessories in the upper compartment provided for the storage thereof.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the several parts of the vacuum cleaner are identified by the same reference numerals employed in the description of the corresponding parts of the vacuum cleaner of FIGS. 1 to 4, the handle or carrying means is in the form of grips 42 which are secured to the upper edge of housing 11 at the opposite sides of the latter. The top opening of the housing 11 may be further closed by a strap 43 which is secured, at one end, to one side of the housing 11 adjacent the upper edge of the latter, while its other end carries a clasp 44 engageable with Wall. If desired, the strap 43 may be elongated so as to function as a carrying handle, and, in that case, the grips 42 of FIG. 5 may be omitted.

As is apparent in FIG. 2, the housing 11 is preferably of substantially elliptical or oval horizontal cross-section, and a peripheral molding 45 of rubber or the like extends around the housing at the joint between the top part 12 and bottom part 13 thereof. The molding 45 is of suflicient width to project laterally beyond the wheels 36, as is apparent in FIG. 3, whereby the molding 45 will make sliding contact with corners, door frames and the like so as to guide the housing around such obstructions when the housing is made to travel by a pull exerted on the hose 31.

When the hose is in its operative position with one end thereof coupled to either the suction connection 27 or the pressure connection 26 provided in false bottom 14, the flexible hose projects through the cutout 39 at the front of the top part 12 of the housing. Thus, when the vacuum cleaner is in its condition of use, as in FIG. 1,

the connection of the hose to the housing is within the perimeter of the latter and does not present the usual projection of rigid material extending from the periphery of the housing and apt to damage furniture, walls or the like upon contact therewith.

From the above, it is apparent that the household vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention embodies a housing which is constructed and arranged so as to avoid damaging contact with furniture, walls or the like during use of the vacuum cleaner, while such housing facilitates storage therein of the usual accessories and further facilitates the transporting or bodily carrying of the vacuum cleaner between the places of storage and use.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having soft side walls, a rigid supporting frame at least in the lower portion of the housing, a motor-fan unit and dust collector arranged in said housing so that, upon operation of said unit, air is drawn into said dust collector and discharged from said unit, and suction and air discharge connections carried by said housing and communicating with said dust collector and said motor-fan unit, respectively, said housing opening upward and said frame including a horizontal partition intermediate the top and bottom of the housing to divide the interior of the latter into a top portion adapted to receive vacuum cleaner accessories during the storage thereof and a bottom portion, handle mean-s adjacent the top of said side walls by which said housing can be bodily transported while closing the top opening of the housing so as to retain accessories stored in said upper portion, said rigid supporting frame further including two vertically spaced horizontally disposed plates at the bottom of said housing and a vertical partition extending between said horizontal partition and the upper one of said plates to divide said bottom portion into first and second compartments in which said motor-fan unit and said dust collector are respectively disposed, the upper one of said plates having openings therein to establish communication between said dust collector and motor-fan unit through the space between said plates, said suction and air discharge connections being mounted in said horizontal partition of the frame and opening into said second and first compartments, respectively.

2. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 1; further comprising a flexible hose remov-ably attached to a selected one of said connections, and floor-engageable :means carried by said frame to support the housing during displacement of the latter by a pull exerted on said hose.

3. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 2; further comprising a flexible pull transmitting means connected at one end to the bottom of said housing at the front of the latter, and means releasably attaching said hose to the other end of said pull transmitting means so that a pull exerted on said hose for displacing said housing is transmitted to the bottom of the latter for avoiding over-turning of the housing, said flexible pull transmitting means including a tapered strap decreasing in width from said one end thereof so as to facilitate guiding of the travel of said housing by said hose.

4. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 2', wherein said floor engageable means are wheels at the opposite sides of said housing, and said housing further includes a resilient moulding projecting outwardly therefrom beyond said wheels so as to avoid contact of the latter with any obstruction apt to hinder travel of said housing.

7 ing housing 5. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 4; wherein said housing is substantially oval in horizontal cross-section and said resilient moulding extends around the entire perimeter thereof.

6. A vacuum cleaner comprising an upwardly openhaving a soft side wall, a rigid frame in said housing including a horizontal partition in the latter between the top and bottom of the housing to divide the interior of the latter into an upper portion adapted to receive vacuum cleaner accessories during storage thereof and a lower portion, a motor-fan unit and a dust collector in communication with each other in said lower portion of the interior below the horizontal paltition, and suction and air discharge connections in said partition and communicating with said dust collector and said motor-fan unit, respectively, said soft side wall being bendable and bodily movable inward responsive to physical force applied to its outer surface.

7. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 6; wherein said side wall is softer at said upper portion of the housing than at said lower portion so as to facilitate the insertion and removal of accessories in said upper portion.

8. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 6; wherein said rigid frame further includes at least one rigid bottom plate; and further comprising a mounting for said motor-fan unit including a block of foamed plastic surrounding said unit and resting on said bottom plate to damp vibrations and absorb sound resulting from operation of said unit.

9. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 6', wherein said housing further includes handle means adjacent the top of said side wall and adapted to be grasped for bodily transporting the housing while simultaneously closing the top opening of the housing for retaining accessories stored in said top portion of the interior.

10. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 6; wherein said side wall has openings therein at the opposite sides of the housing adjacent the top thereof and adapted to be simultaneously grasped so as to provide a handle for bodily transport of the housing while closing the top opening of the latter for retaining accessories in said top portion of the interior.

11. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 6; further comprising grips extending from the top of said side wall at the opposite sides of the housing and adapted to be simultaneously grasped so -as to provide a handle by which the housing may be bodily transported while closing the top opening of the latter for retaining accessories in said top portion of the interior.

12. A vacuum cleaner as in claim 6; further cornprising a strap connected at one end to the side wall of the housing at one side of the latter adjacent the top thereof, and cooperatively engageable clasp means on the other end of said strap and on the side wall of the housing at the other side of the latter adjacent the top thereof so that, when said clasp means are engaged, said strap closes the top opening of the housing for retaining accessories in said top portion of the interior and may be grasped for bodily transporting the housing.

13. A suction cleaner comprising a housing, a motorfan unit and dust collector supported in said housing so that, upon operation of said unit, air is drawn into said dust collector and discharged from said unit, and suction and air discharge connections carried by said housing and communicating w'th said dust collector and motor-fan unit, respectively, said housing including a soft side Wall which is bendable and bodily movable inward responsive to physical force applied to its outer surface,

14. A suction cleaner comprising a housing, a motorfan unit and dust collector supported in said housing so that, upon operation of said unit, air is drawn into said dust collector and discharged from said unit, and suction and air discharge connections carried by said housing and communicating with said dust collector and motor-fan unit, respectively, said housing including a soft side wall which is bendable and bodily movable inwardresponsive 15. A suction cleaner comprising a housing having a top opening, structure including a horizontal partition in the housing to provide top and bottom spaces therein, the

top space defining a receptacle to hold and store suction cleaner accessories, at motor-fan unit and dust collector supported in the bottom space of said housing so that,

upon operation of said unit, air is drawn into said dust collector and discharged from said unit, and suction and air discharge connections carried by said housing and communicating with said dust collector and motor-fan unit, respectively, said housing including a soft side wall which extends above and below said partition and is bendable and bodily movable inward responsive to physical force applied to its outer surface.

16. A suction cleaner as set forth in claim 15 in which opposing regions of the side wall above said partition are movable toward one another to close the top opening,

8 said opposing regions being constructed and arranged to provide a handle for carrying the cleaner when moved toward one another.

17. A suction cleaner as set forth in claim 15 in which said suction and air discharge connections are provided on said horizontal partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,887 Bernhard Aug. 9, 1932 2,367,437 Salt Jan. 16, 1945 2,491,680 Meyerhoefer Dec. 20, 1949 2,503,918 Osborn et al Apr. 11, 1950 2,603,816 MacFarland July 22, 1952 2,688,379 Anderson Sept. 7, 1954 2,930,446 Momberg et al Mar. 29, 1960 3,002,215 MacFarland Oct. 3, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,179 Germany Apr. 3, 1930 902,078 Germany Jan. 18, 1954 

13. A SUCTION CLEANER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A MOTORFAN UNIT AND DUST COLLECTOR SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING SO THAT, UPON OPERATION OF SAID UNIT, AIR IS DRAWN INTO SAID DUST COLLECTOR AND DISCHARGED FROM SAID UNIT, AND SUCTION AND AIR DISCHARGE CONNECTIONS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING AND 